Bottle cap and stopper



NOV. 8, 1955 MEROLLE 2,723,040

BOTTLE CAP AND STOPPER Filed July 14, 1952 F 2 INVENTOR. A. L. MEROLLE ATTORNEY United States atent BOTTLE CAP A\lD STOPPER Augustus L. Merolle, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Empire Metal Cap Co. Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 14, 1952 Serial No. 298,765

2 Claims. (Cl. 215-43) This invention relates to a bottle closure but more particularly and specifically to a composite bottle cap and stopper which provides a leak-proof seal for the open end of a bottle or the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a bottle cap and stopper which provide both an interior and an exterior seal for the open end of the bottle to assure the bottle against leakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle closure embodying a screw cap and a cork stopper, or the equivalent which is so constructed that the stopper can be inserted into and removed from the open end of the bottle by proper rotation of the cap on the bottle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined bottle cap and topper composed of a plurality of parts which are novelly secured together to prevent movement of one part in respect to the other to enable the cap by a rotary movement in respect to the bottle to force the stopper into and remove the stopper from the open end of the bottle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein a mechanical embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper end of a bottle having the present improved bottle cap and stopper thereon.

Fig. 2 is a strung-out enlarged vertical sectional view of the parts comprising the bottle cap and stopper.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the cap and stopper for closing and sealing an opening of a small size.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the cap and stopper, the plug being partly broken away.

The present bottle cap and stopper has been conceived to provide a liquid-tight closure for the open end of a bottle or the like by providing both an interior and an exterior seal at the open bottle end. The drawings illustrate a bottle having a neck of reduced size but it is to be understood that this is not an essential element of the invention as the size of the open end of the bottle and of the opening therein can be accommodated by making the cap and the stopper or plug thereof of the proper dimensions. The material of which the bottle or vessel is composed is not material, the only essential being that the exterior of the bottle be threaded for cooperation with the threaded cap. The material composing the cap parts is also variable. The cap could be composed of metal or some synthetic as could be the threaded band and although cork is preferable as the material from which to make the stopper this could also be of some other suitable material.

Describing the parts in general rather than in specific terms, A constitutes the bottle neck having an open upper end, B the bottle cap, C the cap band and D the stopper, plug or cork.

More specifically describing the parts comprising the cap and stopper, the bottle neck below its upper end 1 2,723,040 Patented Nov. 8, 1 955 2 is provided with surrounding threads 2. The shape or contour of the bottle opening 3 is of nomaterial importance as the stopper or plug would be shaped to properly cooperate therewith to assure a liquid seal.

The cap is of a cup-like shape and comprises a depending skirt 4 and a closed upper end or top 5.

The stopper which is preferably composed of cork comprises a plug portion 6 of the proper contour or configuration to cooperate with the bottle opening 3 and has an enlarged head to provide a circumferential flange which has 'a flat top 7 while its underside at its outer edge has a circumferential flat lip-like portion 8 and an interior circumferential shoulder 9 which, see Fig. 1, has sealing engagement under pressure with the upper end 1 of the bottle neck throughout the periphery thereof. The enlarged head of the plug is of substantially the same diameter as the underside of the cap top and is in firm abutment therewith as will hereinafter appear.

The band C is in reality a ring having on its interior lower end threads 10 for threaded engagement'with the threads of the bottle neck. This band is open ended but at it upper end is provided with an inwardly extending circumferential fiat flange 11 which is of a width substantially the same as that of the lip 8 of the plug head.

The lower end of the skirt of the cap is preferably, although not necessarily, provided at spaced points throughout its periphery with crimps or knurls 12 and the lower peripheral edge of the band is preferably provided with similar crimp or knurls 13.

In the assembly of the composite cap and stopper the band is telescoped into the cap and upward pressure of considerable force is exerted thereon so that the ring flange tightly securely clamps the plug flange or lip against the underside of the cap head. The clamping action and the area of the engaged part is such that the stopper is held immovable in respect to the cap. The band is held immovable in respect to the cap by curling or rolling over the lower peripheral edge of the cap skirt and bringing the knurled portion thereof into clamping relationship with the knurled or crimped lower peripheral edge of the band as clearly appears at 14. The resulting construction is such that the parts are secured together with sufiicient rigidity a to prevent any movement of the parts in respect to one another even when subjected to the pressures and strains occasioned by forcing the plug into and pulling it from the open end of the bottle by rotary action of the cap.

To facilitate rotation of the cap it is preferably exteriorly provided with knurling 15 to provide a finger or hand grip.

The cap and stopper provide a very efilcient bottle seal as it is both an interior and an exterior seal of the bottle opening. Additionally a cork type stopper or seal is provided which can be quickly and easily inserted and removed without the necessity of a corkscrew and without the common casualty of destroying the cork as so often results with the use of a corkscrew.

Departures from the specific construction illustrated and described can be made without departing from the inventive concept the scope of which is set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A closure for a bottle having an external screw thread about its open end comprising, a cup-like shaped cap having a closed top, a stopper for the open end of the bottle, the stopper being disposed in the cap and comprising a plug adapted to tightly fit the open end of the bottle and being provided at its upper end with an enlarged head abutting and covering the inner face of the cap top, an open-ended internally threaded band surrounding the stopper plug and having its side wall paralleling but spaced from the side wall of the cap and provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending circumferential flange tightly abutting the underside of the stopper head, the band flange being of less width than the stopper head, and the band being secured to the cap against movement in respect thereto.

2. A closure for a bottle having an external screw thread about its open end comprising, a circular shaped cup-like cap having a closed top and a depending skirt, a stopper for the open end of the bottle, the stopper comprising a plug adapted to tightly fit the open end of the bottle and being provided at its upper end with an enlarged head having a flat top and providing at the upper end of the plug a surrounding flange, the stopper being disposed in the cap with its head abutting and substantially covering the inner face of the cap top, an open ended band within the cap and surrounding the plug and provided on the inner surface of its lower end with threads, the side wall of the band spaced from but substantially paralleling the cap skirt and being provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending circumferential flange tightly abutting the underside of the stopper head flange and forcing the same against the underside of the cap top, the band flange being of less width than the stopper flange to leave a portion thereof for sealing engagement with the upper end of the bottle defining the opening therein, and the lower peripheral edge of the cap skirt being bent inwardly and upwardly around and over the lower edge of the band and tightly securing the hand against movement in respect to the cap and the band flange in abutment under pressure with the plug flange.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,520,088 Schenkein Dec. 23, 1924 1,963,635 Wainwright June 19, 1934 2,009,666 Keith July 30, 1935 2,056,253 Carroll et al. Oct. 6, 1936 2,058,214 Cohn Oct. 20, 1936 2,094,021 Penn Sept. 28, 1937 2,175,350 Hammer Oct. 10, 1939 2,262,021 Lockwood Nov. 11, 1941 2,330,896 Keith Oct. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 717,967 France Oct. 26, 1931 418,157 Italy Feb. 7, 1947 

